Full Notification

PATROL OFFICER DISCOVER UNDERGROUND MARIJUANA CULTIVATION CHAMBERS

Modesto, CA. –On Friday, April 9, 2010, a Modesto Police Officer on routine patrol, discovered two underground rooms filled with 255 marijuana plants. Officers estimate the cultivation could produce $250,000-$300,000 every three months.

As Officer Randy Bolinger was on routine patrol, he could smell a very strong odor of marijuana coming from the area of Scenic Drive and Coffee Road. Officer Bolinger is a former drug investigator for our Modesto Narcotics Enforcement Team, (MNET) and has extensive knowledge and training investigating illegal Marijuana Cultivation cases. Officer Bolinger began to investigate and determined the smell was coming from a residence in the 1300 block of Scenic Drive. After additional evidence was obtained, Officer Bolinger obtained a search warrant for the residence and property.

Officer Bolinger and Investigator’s with MNET served the search warrant and located approximately 1 pound of processed marijuana, evidence of cultivation and sales of marijuana. Officers searching an 8 foot by 8 foot outdoor wooden shed found a false floor which led to a tunnel underground. Officers climbed down a stationary ladder and found a large steel door blocking the entrance to the underground rooms. Officers were able to force open the steel door and found the sophisticated grow rooms. The entire underground rooms measured 20 feet wide by 40 feed long, with a ceiling height of 7 feet. Modesto Irrigation District (MID) employees responded and determined the residents had been stealing electrical power. They have tentatively determined over $52,000 in theft of electricity.

While officers were serving this search warrant, two males arrived at the residence. Officers were able to identify a secondary residence, which was connected to this illegal marijuana cultivation case. A second search was conducted in the 1300 block of E Street in Modesto. There, officers recovered 3 handguns, 1-sawed off shotgun, and $1,500 in cash.

Arrested was Francisco Garcia, 34 year old from Modesto. He will be booked for possession, cultivation and sales of marijuana, along with additional weapons charges. Investigators are following-up on this case and believe additional arrests will be made.

For additional information regarding this press release please contact Detective Darren Ruskamp at (209)652-1808, or Sgt. Rick Armendariz at (209)652-1820.